SAE fraternity's racist video causes major fall out
buzzz worthy. . .
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (SAE) at the University of Oklahoma at Norman has been disbanded after its members were seen and heard chanting racial slurs in a video that went viral. The chant is an SAE tradition that speaks of lynching "n*Gg*s" and keeping them from joining the Greek organization. Black spray painted letters on the side of their frat house screamed, "TEAR IT DOWN!" The U of O President David Boren responded with swift discipline, shutting down the house and expelling the two students seen as the ring leaders in the video. The frat brothers had until midnight a day after the fall out to be completely moved out of the house.
In the aftermath of this incident just goes to show just how far the damage of ignorant behavior can reach. The frat brothers not only hurt themselves, but the African American cook who provided their meals appeared on CBS News with complaint of losing his job and house. He worked in the frat house for 15 years and told CBS news he is out of the best job he has ever held.
A video from two years earlier of the house mother using the n-word in a rap song repeatedly. She released a statement saying she is not a racist, but sees how it may appear in the wake of the chant controversy.
But the fall out doesn't stop there. The video has harmed the OU reputation to the point that a football recruit has de-committed.
A former African American member who pledged the fraternity in 2001 has denounced the organization also.
When questioned by local press as they were packing their cars, most SAE members said they were embarrassed about the video. As they prepared to leave a the three letters that signified their brotherhood were being removed. SAE is no more at OU. Nationally, all chapters of the fraternity are now under investigation.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (SAE) at the University of Oklahoma at Norman has been disbanded after its members were seen and heard chanting racial slurs in a video that went viral. The chant is an SAE tradition that speaks of lynching "n*Gg*s" and keeping them from joining the Greek organization. Black spray painted letters on the side of their frat house screamed, "TEAR IT DOWN!" The U of O President David Boren responded with swift discipline, shutting down the house and expelling the two students seen as the ring leaders in the video. The frat brothers had until midnight a day after the fall out to be completely moved out of the house.
In the aftermath of this incident just goes to show just how far the damage of ignorant behavior can reach. The frat brothers not only hurt themselves, but the African American cook who provided their meals appeared on CBS News with complaint of losing his job and house. He worked in the frat house for 15 years and told CBS news he is out of the best job he has ever held.
A video from two years earlier of the house mother using the n-word in a rap song repeatedly. She released a statement saying she is not a racist, but sees how it may appear in the wake of the chant controversy.
But the fall out doesn't stop there. The video has harmed the OU reputation to the point that a football recruit has de-committed.
A former African American member who pledged the fraternity in 2001 has denounced the organization also.
When questioned by local press as they were packing their cars, most SAE members said they were embarrassed about the video. As they prepared to leave a the three letters that signified their brotherhood were being removed. SAE is no more at OU. Nationally, all chapters of the fraternity are now under investigation.
